Pin Removal - Foot Problems Message Board

footsy · 09-23-2006, 05:57 PM

I am getting ready to have pins removed this coming Thursday. I had a double bunionectomy in May and one of my pins has moved. So my doctor is taking one out of each foot. He said I'd be back to work on Monday.

I was just wondering will I be able to walk okay a day or so after the surgery?

I know it's not as bad as the bunionectomy, just wondering how it compares. Thanks. Debbie

KathJack · 09-24-2006, 08:02 PM

Hi, Debbie~ I have no idea about what to expect from a pin removal (I wonder if needing to have pins removed happens more or less often than needing to have screws removed?), but I wanted to say hi and wish you well. How did you find out that your pin had moved? I went to a vacation place in Green Lake Wisconsin with seven other women this weekend where I enjoyed two three mile walks. That was very satisfying. I occasionally have twinges of pain, but far less than before my surgeries. Hope things are going well for you with work, etc. Are you still using your new exercise equipment in the garage? Let us know how the removal and recovery go. Cheers, Kathy

KathJack · 09-24-2006, 08:09 PM

Oops~ Sorry Debbie, I read your double bunionectomy update post AFTER I read and responded to this entry.

footsy · 09-24-2006, 09:51 PM

Kathy,
Thanks for responding. I have been using the elliptical in the garage. It is easier to do that than the treadmill. The pain in the joint between foot and toe hurts pretty bad. If I'm not careful and I lift my heel up too much on the elliptical, I feel it the next couple of days. My left foot is basically back to normal.

I was surprised when my doctor said he was going to take both pins out. He said they were basically there to serve as a stint until the bone healed and after that they serve no function. They are left in as long as they don't bother you.

I said pins. What's the difference in pins and screws? Now I'm not sure which ones I have. It's a good possibility that I have screws. I might have used the wrong word. I did a search and I think mine are screws. I'll ask again when I go for surgery. Thanks and have a great day.

mkl · 09-26-2006, 07:18 AM

Pins are straight thingies a couple of inches long. Mine were removed from the toes of both feet with hardly any pain at all. Then, a little over two weeks ago, I had the screws removed...two in one foot, three in the other. They look exactly like screws from Home Depot or whatever. It was a bit more uncomfortable as the doc had to make incisions by where each big fat bunion was, but no where near the pain of the initial surgeries and afterwards. With the pins, they are just pulled out. No big deal. My pins were in my hammertoes; I believe with bunionectomies they have to use screws.

Marianne